KWPN-NA Celebrates 35 Years By Jennifer M. Keeler
n the early 1980s, modern Warmblood breeding was in its relative infancy in North America. But the equestrian world was changing in the United States and Canada, and the market for a new generation of sport horses was about to explode. As a result of these new trends, the Royal Dutch Warmblood Studbook in North America (KWPN-NA) was formed in 1983 to promote breeding and enjoy- ment of the KWPN horse on this continent. From humble beginnings, the KWPN-NA now cel- ebrates its thirty-fifth anniversary in 2018 as one of North America’s largest Warmblood organizations. Te non-profit association came off of a banner year in 2017 with one of its largest keuring tours in recent history, including an ex- plosion of popularity in the harness horse ranks. Breeders took advantage of the organization’s free microchipping and United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) lifetime record- ings for foals, as well as reduced fees for yearlings and older horses offered in an effort to incentivize more breeder par- ticipation. Tese breeder-friendly efforts were rewarded with more than 350 new registrations for horses of all ages over the course of the year. In the competition ring, Dutch horses continued to shine
I Participants during a keuring at DG Bar Ranch.
across North America. For talented youngsters, the KWPN- NA was represented by a dramatic increase in participation by Dutch horses in the wildly-popular Young Horse Show Series (YHS). With an increased number of competitions partnering with the KWPN-NA to offer high-point breed ribbons, the organization is also offering new and improved all-breeds awards through the USEF and the United States Dressage Federation (USDF) and will be seeking additional areas of expansion to recognize equine talent and achieve- ment this year. From local Pony Club rallies to the international competi- tion stage and for riders of all ages and abilities across a vari- ety of disciplines, over the last year KWPN horses have once again proven to be the choice of champions. Just a few of the multitude of recent achievements include Lehua Custer’s fairy-tale victory in the Tird Level Open Championship aboard F.J. Ramzes at the US Dressage Finals in Lexington
(one of 50 KWPN horses declared for the competition); an unprecedented one-two finish for Rebekah Mingari in the Nation- al Young Rider Dressage Championship at the USEF Festival of Champions with the mother-daughter team of Allure S and El- zarma TF; U.S. Olympian Phillip Dutton finishing in the top ten at the Rolex Ken- tucky Tree-Day Event and fifth at the American Eventing Championships (AECs)
aboard I’m Sew Ready; in the hunter ring, Tish Quirk’s filly Just Remember claimed the West Coast Best Young Horse Title at the 2017 Sallie B. Wheeler/USEF Hunter Breeding National Championship; U.S Show Jumping Team mates Kent Farrington and McLain Ward rising to number one and two on the FEI World Ranking Lists with three talented KWPN horses help- ing them to the top; and Jennifer Hamilton winning her first national title in the USEF Single Horse Driv- ing Championship with her U.S.-bred KWPN gelding Makari Design. Kicking off
2018’s thirty-fifth anniversary celebra- tion, the KWPN- NA will welcome members and the public to its Annual General Meeting, which will be held February 15–18 in Wellington, Florida. An impressive lineup of presenters and activities promises to offer attendees excellent educational opportunities, engaging discussions and networking, special awards, good food and great fun. To learn more about attending this special event in the winter equestrian paradise of south Florida and see a complete schedule of activities, visit
www.kwpn-na.org.
SPECIAL KWPN-NA SECTION
California’s Lehua Custer and F.J. Ramzes cel- ebrate one of their many victories, including at the US Dressage Finals in November.
Warmbloods Today 53
KWPN-NA Jennifer M. Keeler
Photo courtesy of KWPN-NA
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